A skeptic returns to Reiki class

I walked into my second class, I had taken the opportunity provided by the week break to do some online research and watch the dvd series that the instructors had loaned to us from their personal collections.

Much of the stuff relating to aural readings and distance healing was very tough for me to swallow. Admittedly, I considered even the slight possibility of such things to be in the realm of space cadets not for an precise examiner like myself.

Reiki and Meditation music

The lights were dimmed and the shades were pulled, an aromatherapy
mister was trickling and releasing a eucalyptus-lemon essential oil
again. It is titled 'Calming" and is available through Young Living, I
use it myself.

The air was filled with that smell and a tranquil
calming new age type meditation music. Since, I personally prefer
silent reflective meditation I was slightly turned off by this.

Take this opportunity to play the meditation music for yourself, it is available to the right. --->

Try..... to picture this with me, the room was filled with around a dozen people who were taking the class in partnership with their Medical professions. Most were dressed in business casual and were stripping off their heavy boots, scarves and jackets, required for life in a new york winter. Some were self-consciously smoothing their hair down as they removed their hats.

The two instructors welcomed everyone and explained they were going to play a guided meditation today. If time allowed they would demonstrate one seated Reiki treatment at the conclusion of class. Many were new to any form of meditation and were instructed to breathe normally and follow the meditation closely.

With the room further darkened, they turned off the Reiki music and started to play the guided meditation, they did not actually speak themselves.

A Guided Meditation

The Guided meditation: Reiki

We began this exact same guided mediation:

(A quick note about the skeptic, I am no stranger to meditation, early into college I became very interested in the history and practice of Buddhism, on three separate occasions I participated in group events with visiting Tibetan Buddhists, I was stunned at the time by the feeling of just being close to and seeing the smile of these monks, In there meditations they used a bell, the sound of this bell continued in my ears for the course of a 20 minute session, yet it truly rang for seconds....But that being said, Im a highly caffeinated individual with his own Keurig Brewer, a totally wacked sleep schedule and a mind that is focused on writing and learning at all times...it is VERY hard to slow down at lunch time for a segway into guided meditation)

I suggest trying this short meditation on your own right now. Than I will describe my experience.

My experience with the Guided meditation

I tried hard to follow along with the exercise, I couldn't help but glance around at the professionals in the room and smirk at the incredulous looks on many of their faces. When , I finally was able to relax and follow along, I was able to visualize much of the imagery and was carried along with very little conscious effort.

Did, I meet my spirit guide? Nah...not yet, but I did experience a rather fun light show of changing hues and shapes, I was actually disappointed when the track stopped and the instructors voice began again.

Here is where one of the more interesting events happened, as mentioned in the previous installment of the Reiki skeptic, one of the instructors had mentioned she could now see auras since achieving her attunements. Of course, this is hard to believe or prove..hey, maybe I see leprechauns, who are you to tell me they aren't real, right?

The instructor looked around the room and began asking specific questions about our experiences she looked right at one of my neighbors and stated she saw a specific color field and shape morphing to another color and shape, he look stunned and admitted that was very similar to what he did see!

She looked at me and described fundamentally what I had envisioned, which was quite different from what my neighbor had experienced. I was incredulous, but moved.

Our first Reiki Treatment

While the class was still relaxed and the mood was tangibly calm, the instructor asked for a volunteer to receive the treatment.

A young woman volunteered. The instructor asked her to sit in a seat in the front of the class, she asked if the woman had any places that she would be uncomfortable having touched, she pointed out that actual touch is not necessary for a successful Reiki treatment. But the woman consented that she was comfortable with the hand positions that had been explained to us in our introductory videos.

The Instructor warned that although the treatment has no negative side effects, it is not uncommon for one to fall asleep during treatment and to feel unusual pressure, tingling or unexplainable sensations. She also mentioned that the woman could expect the best sleep of her life later in the evening.

She proceeded to perform the treatment after asking the young woman to close her eyes and try to clear, as he was during the earlier meditation. A video showing almost the exact same treatment is available below.

First timers response to a Reiki treatment

f
you watched the video, you probably felt the same way I did, a little
curious, but for the most part just completely irreverent. I mean,
really, you just stand there with your eyes closed, silently and Im
supposed to believe your helping that girl!

Well, when the young
woman opened her eyes, she smiled sleepily. When asked how she felt,
she responded "Incredible." "I have been highly stressed all day and
now I feel free and relaxed. I could go to sleep right now, but not
because Im tired, just because, well just because"

We concluded the class, all of us rushing off to our afternoon engagements.

In the next series of classes, I received treatments myself, stay tuned for future installments where I will attempt to describe the experiences I had that turned a reiki skeptic to a reiki believer.

Comments

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cureremedies 7 years agofrom US

Great hub! I'm glad that I found part 2. I'm anxious to see if you have part 3 done. I'm still wondering what your experience was like once you received your attunement and/or a treatment.

hubby7 7 years agofrom Chicago

I enjoyed reading your hub. I found it both interestiing to read and amusing at the same time. I like the way you write. It's enjoyable. I have to adopt some of it in my own hubs.

quicksand 7 years ago

I attended a Reiki session ten years back. There were just a few participants, fifteen in number. Strangely I was the only one who did not feel any "vibrations" or "tingling sensations." I did not receive any "encrypted" messages from authoritative celestials either! I went back home untransformed, unaffected, unaltered. Sorry if my opinion differs from what I think yours will be. Cheers!

Hillary 7 years agofrom Atlanta, GA

I'm really enjoying this installment sunforged. I have to say that as a Reiki teacher myself I understand why you were skeptical, seemingly uncomfortable(?)with this lesson. There are all styles of teaching when it comes to Reiki. When stuff gets too "new age-y", most people start to fidget. I have a more corporate approach. Not everyone who decides to explore energy medicine needs the dog and pony show. Anyway, I look forward to reading the next. I love your style.